Tribunal to Atiku: You have 14 days to present them
Counsel to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar told the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal on Monday that they had proposed to call 400 witnesses to prove their petition challenging the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari, and his All Progressives Congress, at the February 23 poll.
The Justice Mohammed Garba-led five-man tribunal gave Atiku counsel 14. Justice MI Garba said the 14 days period is prescribed under paragraph 16(3) of the First Schedule to the Electoral Act.
In response, Dr. Livy Ozoukwu said although we proposed 400 witnesses, we “intend to call as many witnesses as possible within the prescribed time.”
“we will tender and reserve objection till final addresses.”
He added, “What we have not agreed on yet is whether we will be given opportunity to isolate the preliminary objection from the main address.
“We are also not too sure on the length of time of cross-examination.”
Justice Garba said, the length of time for cross-examination “will be dependent on the circumstances and facts,” particularly the number of witnesses parties to the case intended to call.
He added, “But we shall set a template for cross-examination which will not be sacrosanct.
Tribunal is on 30 minutes recess.
